Back to Quality and Customer Satisfaction

Nortel places strong emphasis on ensuring our suppliers represent Nortel in a way that enhances our reputation and relationships with our customers and other stakeholders around the world. As part of our Guide to Ethical Business Practices, Nortel has established a Supplier Code of Conduct that outlines how we work with our strategic and preferred supply base to achieve common goals of high standards of integrity and ethical business practice. Nortel's Supplier Code of Conduct is based on three overriding principles:

• Be honest and obey all applicable laws
• Treat people with dignity and respect (including issues regarding work environment, workforce diversity, terms of employment and freedom of association).
• Protect and enhance the environment.

Nortel's Quality Management System extends well beyond our internal organizations to include key suppliers who are an important element of our Quality Management System. Nortel continually monitors, tracks and improves our supply chain through a monthly Global Supply Chain Scorecard that provides financial, quality, order management and delivery metrics. Our goal is to provide our customers with the telecom industry's leading supply chain, with delivery agility, skilled resources, global reach, cost competitiveness and outstanding product/service quality.

Additionally, our supplier recognition program recognizes suppliers and representatives who have demonstrated exemplary performance and contribution to Nortel's supply chain based on the value, vision and velocity they deliver.